Increase in Minimum Wage

From 1 October 2011 the hourly rates for the National Minimum Wage have increased. This applies to all employers that pay workers and/or apprentices. Pay must not fall below the hourly rates which are set by statute.

The new rates are as follows:

- Workers aged 21 years and above: £6.08 an hour- Workers aged 18 - 20 years: £4.98 an hour- Workers aged below 18 years who are no longer of compulsory school age: £3.68 an hour

Apprentices who fit the following criteria should receive at least £2.60 an hour:

- under the age of 19 years - aged 19 years or over and in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship

To qualify to receive the National Minimum Wage, the apprentice must either:

- work under a contract of apprenticeship- be employed on a government-funded training scheme that is treated as an apprenticeship for National Minimum Wage purposes

Summary:

From 1 October 2011 the hourly rates for the National Minimum Wage have increased. This applies to all employers that pay workers and/or apprentices. Pay must not fall below the hourly rates which are set by statute.